Christmas is Quickly Approaching

I think today I can finally say we are done shopping!!! What a relief!! Now I just need to get everything wrapped. I am just praying I do not have to make another trip to the store to get more wrapping paper. I am trying to avoid the stores until after Christmas. I have bought enough groceries and dog food to last. The kids are getting real excited about the big day! Luke got out of school today, and Rachel gets out tomorrow. Rachel has her school Christmas party tomorrow, and Luke is just as excited about it as she is. Last year we went and he made quite a haul. I hope he lucks out again.

I have not shared any pictures of our tree this year. I thought it turned out real pretty, especially since it was decorated by a seven and four year old! It is just in need of some presents. Rachel and Luke had so much fun decorating the tree!! They loved seeing their ornaments they have made and bought over the years. It is funny what treasures those ornaments become. We all have our favorites. Kate has taken to the tree as we suspected she would. It is just another thing for her to get into. She has broken and eaten more candy canes this year than we have lost in the seven years we have had a tree (since Rachel's first Christmas).

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Kate has discovered a new toy she likes even better than the Christmas tree. It is the computer. She can pull the chair out and climb up. If it is not one thing it is another! Yesterday she found Rachel's homework and a pencil on the table and did some work of her own. She ripped the corner off and drew all over it. We fixed it with a little tape and an eraser. If she was not so darn cute I might get mad at her!

Naughty or Nice?

Have the Stansell kids been naughty or nice this year? We will just have to see what Santa decides. I would say they have been pretty good, but it is really not up to me is it? Rachel, Luke and Kate recently went to see Santa to place their orders. Rachel wants a Wii (video game system), i Pod, camera, and bag for her v-tech computer (her other one has been misplaced). Luke wants a Wii, Leapster, Shaggy doll, and Shaggy puzzle. Kate just wanted the heck out of there!! I am sure Santa knows what she really wants.



Luke got stage fright and forgot what he was going to ask for. Luckily, Rachel stepped in and helped him out.


Poor Baby Kate...Why do parents put their kids through torture to get a picture of them with Santa Claus?

Here is our Santa picture from last year. Kate's reaction was exactly the same!

On our trip to see Santa Claus we took a few friends (cousins) along. This is going to be such a fun picture to look back on!! This is all the Stansell grandbabies for now...

From left to right: Kate, Rachel, Miles, Santa, Ian, Luke and Tenley

Luke asked yesterday if Santa shopped for the toys at the store. I said I did not know and asked why he asked. He said because if Santa shopped at the stores he probably was not going to find a Shaggy doll. Maybe Santa found one on Ebay. We will see what he has in his bag for Little Lukie this year!!

Sweet Katybug

Today when we picked Katybug up after church she was in the middle of snack time. The instant she saw us you could see the panic set in. She quickly shoved the animal cracker she had in her hand into her mouth. She then grabbed an animal cracker with each hand and came toward the door as fast as her little fat legs would carry her. She was a baby on a mission. It was just so funny!! She had everybody laughing at her, even Rachel and Luke. What a sweet little baby we have!

On a different note, yesterday we found Kate standing in the middle of the dining room table. That is something else her brother and sister never did.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Thanksgiving weekend Chris's Mom, brother, sister, and their families came to visit. It was so much FUN!! We had three days full of eating, shopping, playing with the babies, playing with Uncle Aaron's Wii (video game), and just hanging out. We missed Granny and Pop Pop and Uncle David very much!! Maybe they will join us next year. Here are some pictures from our fun weekend:

Thanksgiving

This year we had Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house. It was my parents, Grandma, Aunt Lorita, Aunt Joy and Uncle Keith, Dena, me and the kids. We had turkey with all the trimmings. It was wonderful! My mom makes the best sweet potatoes! After we ate it was about time to watch the Cowboys play football. We stayed for part of the game then went to Steve and Nancy's house. A lot of Nancy's family was in town visiting for Thanksgiving. It was nice to visit with everybody, and the kids got to play with their cousins.

Memaw and Kate letting their dinner settle on the back porch...


Kate is showing us her tummy is full.

My parent's back yard was over run with dogs. There were six of them. Dixie felt like she was being mistreated being put in a pin with dogs.

Cecil and his guitar were the highlight of the kid's Thanksgiving. Luke said that the singing was his favorite part of the day. Cecil took requests and played and sang as long as the kids wanted to. Oh what fun Uncle Cecil is!!
What is singing without dancing? Lucky for Luke his cousin Tenley likes to dance too! Aren't they CUTE?!?!
Kate and Miller playing.

Rachel, Luke, Cooper, and Emily

Here is a video of Cecil playing the guitar for the kids.

Rachel Gets Braces

Rachel got her braces this morning. She looks real cute, and she said it did not hurt a bit! I am not sure about a seven year old with braces, but we will see how it works out. She had to get them to fix a cross bite. She will have to wear them for about a year.

She also got a free t-shirt and a list of her favorite foods she can't eat for a year. I thought the shirt was pretty funny.

Kate's Walkin' the Dog

Kate discovered a new toy today. Well she has actually had this puppy for about a year, but today she figured out what you are really supposed to do with it. I thought it was cute and wanted to share!